The Government of Saskatchewan will provide a $10 million, one-time energy credit program to assist families with rising home energy costs.

The credit fulfills an earlier commitment made by the government to provide relief from rising energy costs and will begin to appear on SaskPower bills starting in May, 2001.

"Rising energy costs impact all Saskatchewan people," Energy and Mines and Crown Investments Corporation Minister Maynard Sonntag said. "That is why we are offering a one-time energy credit of $25 for each SaskPower residential and farm customer."

The City of Saskatoon and the City of Swift Current have also been asked to deliver this energy credit to their residential utility customers.

Administering the program in this way enables the government to provide the energy credit to the maximum number of Saskatchewan residences, at minimal administrative cost.

"We realize the energy credit is short-term and modest relief for a problem that may be with us for a long time," Sonntag said. "From this point, we will be turning our attention to helping Saskatchewan people and communities reduce their energy consumption."

An energy conservation 'greenprint' for Saskatchewan will be developed, in consultation with crown corporations and interested stakeholders.

"Reducing energy consumption will pay long term financial and environmental dividends," Sonntag said.

Details on the Energy Credit program are available at www.saskpower.com or by calling toll-free 1-888-SKPOWER.

Larry Christie
SaskPower
Regina
Phone: (306) 566-3167
Toll-Free: 1-888-536-0000